In an unlikely alliance, the Democratic leader of California’s Reparations Task Force and a Republican state lawmaker have joined forces to bring the California American Freedmen Agency to fruition.
Outspoken Republican lawmaker Bill Essayli has introduced AB 1315 which would establish the agency and he has the unapologetic support of Reparations Task Force Chairwoman Kamilah Moore. The bill also ties to legislation introduced by Sen. Laura Richardson under SB 515.
“I have introduced AB 1315 to deliver on a broken promise and engage in an honest discussion about creating opportunities for American Freedman instead of more empty political rhetoric from the Democrat Party,” said Essayli in a previous interview.
While Essayli and Moore champion the bill in Sacramento, they have strong local support with Billion GodSun who is the founder of the Africa Town Coalition based in South Los Angeles’ Leimert Park.
Billion is vocal about his support of reparations and is routinely seen on social media seeking support from members of the California Black Caucus and the community to see the bills passed into law.
Billion recently spoke to 2UrbanGirls about the importance of supporting Assembly Bill 1315 to secure reparations.
2UG: What is your background? Where are you from, age range, and where you were educated.
Billion: I was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. My family relocated to Los Angeles in 1980 when I was 9-years-old and now I am now 54 years young.
I graduated from Inglewood High School and attended UCLA.
2UG: How did you get involved with the work on reparations?
Billion: I began work in the Reparations Movement with Mr. John Peoples. We would ride around on what he called his slave ships and pass out his Reparations Bibles, information about the injustices America has committed against our People.
In 2018, we connected with people who are now members of CJEC (Coalition for a Just & Equitable California) and for the past seven (7) years we have collaborated with them to keep our people in LA County involved in the California Reparations Movement.
2UG: What are some of the most challenging aspects of this work?
Billion: Within our Black community there are a number of opposing perspectives on what Reparations is.
The more frustrating part is there is a clear lack of political will on the part of Black officials to move forward a true Reparations agenda.
2UG: How did you feel when several reparations related bills were blocked last legislative session?
Billion: I felt betrayed, disgusted & infuriated
2UG: How did you come to work with Bill Essayli and did you perceive any related backlash to the newfound synergy with a Republican legislator?
Billion: One of our colleagues pointed out Assemblyman Bill Essayli on August 31, 2024, when we were at the state capitol. She shared she believed Essayli just might be the one Republican who would move Senator Bradford’s bills forward since the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) refused to do so.
Even though Essayli’s attempt at that time were blocked by members of the Black Caucus we were glad Bill made the effort because it exposed the Black Caucus did not just refuse to present the bills but they were actually committed to blocking them.
A few weeks ago when it was announced that Bill presented the agency bill AB 1315 many of us were surprised that Essayli was still working with us to make the agency happen.
2UG: What is your desired outcome of this new collaboration?
Billion: I would like to see our agency bill make it to the governor’s desk to force his hand either way.
2UG: Finally, many in the community are dismayed with the perception that reparations won’t come with a “check”. Would you like to clear that up and provide more details about a cash component to reparations related legislation?
Billion: Reparations is going to come by means of what we commit to. As long as we stay determined to get the monetary & other resources necessary to repair us we will get it.
The AB 1315 agency bill is not the end of our claim but rather the beginning. Once we get our agency established we then have to continue the push to get our checks and everything else that is owed to us.
2UG: When you are not on the front lines fighting for reparations, what are you up to? What are you reading and listening to?
Billion: Whenever possible I like to listen to music – 2Pac, Nipsey and Kendrick Lamar are my favorite commercial artist. Other than that, I’m getting much needed rest and maybe workout but honestly I don’t have time for much else.
2UG: What do you want 2UrbanGirls readers to take away after reading this?
Billion: We need everyone who reads this to connect with us and get involved with our movement today to claim what is owed to us #CAReparations.
Stay connected with Billion and the Africa Town Coalition on their social media platforms.
Instagram: @billiongodsun @africatowncoalition @africatownenterprise
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